House of the Week: $2.1 million for a Summerhill semi with a tranquil sunken living room

The Place: A two-bedroom brick semi on a pretty, tree-lined street in Summerhill.

Bragging Rights: Plenty of traditional homes have had contemporary makeovers, but few snag a feature in DesignLines magazine. A recent reno brought in design-centric details like walnut accents, a sunken back living room and an open-tread stairwell.

Big Selling Point: Living in a semi doesn’t mean you can’t party. The dual-layer drywall, sound-deadening insulation and sound-muffling staircase surround will let you rock out to the latest Rihanna track without disturbing your neighbours.

Possible Deal Breaker: The main and second floor are thoroughly modern, which makes the ho-hum basement feel a little drab.